Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Meet Jessica Gonzalez: Latina Lawyer Fighting for Cannabis Legalization & Minority Owners

New Jersey's Jessica Gonzalez fights for legalization and minority cannabis business owners
New Jersey's Jessica Gonzalez fights for legalization and minority cannabis business owners
Photo Courtesy of Jessica Gonzalez

Jessica Gonzalez is a Hispanic lawyer who has been fighting for New Jersey cannabis legalization and an equitable market. Public Question 1, the constitutional amendment legalizing adult-use cannabis, is on the state's November 3rd ballot where early voting has begun.

While confident that legalization will pass, especially given recent polling , Gonzalez is hoping people remember that Public Question 1 is on the back of the ballot.


“I’m just hoping people turn their ballot,” Gonzalez said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Gonzalez is currently a leader of NJ CAN 2020, the pro-cannabis coalition formed to legalize adult-use cannabis in New Jersey. NJ CAN 2020 touts the NJ NAACP, the Latino Action Network, ACLU and other minority leaders as part of their effort to change the state's constitution.

Undoing the harm done by the War on Drugs has become a major talking point for Gonzalez and NJ CAN 2020, as a recent ACLU study found that Latinos and Black Americans are arrested four times more than whites for low level marijuana offenses.

This is especially poignant because many are unhappy that the national cannabis industry is dominated by White men who seem indifferent to that issue.

Many experts agree that New Jersey is a pivotal state in advancing federal legalization due to the "cannabis domino effect" . Simply put, approval in NJ forces mega states such as New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania to follow suit creating a multi-billion dollar East Coast market that will be hard for Congress to ignore.

Protecting Minority Cannabis Business Owners

Gonzalez was born in Ecuador and came to the United States when she was three years old, her family settling in New Jersey.

Once she became a lawyer, she began working in intellectual property(IP) protection and quickly grew restless.

“I began thinking to myself of the constants of my life, and that included my spiritual beliefs and cannabis, which I benefited from for years,” Gonzalez said.

“I wasn’t fulfilled using skills toward a cause that did not change or affect the lives of people,” she said.

So, Gonzales began attending cannabis industry events where she saw people with noteworthy company names and brands left open to liability. In her opinion, most of these owners assumed that neither their products nor ancillary businesses could receive IP protection.

“I was seeing lawyers giving terrible advice that you can’t acquire IP protection. I knew something was wrong,” Gonzalez said.

As a specialist in protecting the IP of corporate brands, Gonzalez quickly pivoted her skills into cannabis.

“I always tell folks to use the skills you have and pivot them,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez recommends that businesses seeking to protect their assets, such as education, merchandise or paraphernalia, take the necessary steps to receive trademark protection.

“Trademark registration is ownership, and ownership is everything right now,” she said.

Gonzalez said it is an area many do not consider until it becomes a problem.

Gonzalez ( left) speaks at the Hudson County NJ Chamber of Commerce on marijuana reformGonzalez ( left) speaks at the Hudson County NJ Chamber of Commerce on marijuana reformPhoto Courtesy of Jessica Gonzalez

“Folks don’t realize that for largest companies in the world, their trademark is a top three, most valuable asset,” Gonzalez said. “If you want to be a million-dollar company, you need to take steps to be one.”

Gonzalez said businesses should take inventory of their property assets, including websites, logos, graphics, brand name, inventions, trade secrets and proprietary recipes to understand what needs to be protected.

Gonzalez laments that minority entrepreneurs and business people are more susceptible to become victims of predatory contracts because they are not aware of what they are signing.

Gonzalez believes it’s “important to be able to have legal counsel look over it, so you don’t sign away your rights.”


She added fixing a contract is harder and leaves an entrepreneur more open to liability, especially in communities of color.

Gonzalez said her clientele is 85 percent minorities or women and include plant-touching businesses, CBD retailers, hemp farmers, cannabis educators, cannabis marketing firms, and product manufacturers.

A lot of people want to get involved, but lack the education on what it takes, and the money needed. So, I’ve seen a lot of dreams die due to lack of capital. That’s one thing I’d like to see change.

Jessica Gonzalez

“It's a privilege for me to work in this space. I believe in this plant and that makes a difference when you’re fighting for something you believe in."

Gonzalez said going to her Latina mother to tell her she was leaving her cushy job for cannabis was not an easy task. However, seven months into it when she found success, her mother said, “Mija (my daughter) I’m so proud of you.”

Her whole family is now on board and has already voted for legalization.

“It took me to break the mold on it, educate them on the benefits. If you can educate your community of friends and family, you can educate anybody,” she said.


Are you still missing out on The Bluntness newsletter? Sign Up today to stay in the loop.

More For You

Store your psilocybin mushrooms properly for best results.
Store your psilocybin mushrooms properly for best results.
Photo by Marco Allegretti on Unsplash

Psilocybin 101: How to Store Magic Mushrooms to Maximize Potency and Shelf Life

Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, have been embraced for their transformative effects and potential therapeutic benefits. However, like any organic material, they are perishable and can lose potency—or worse, become unsafe—if not stored correctly. Whether you're healing depression or having trippy sex to hallucinatory entertainment, understanding how to properly store your mushrooms can help you preserve their effects for months or even years.

This comprehensive guide outlines best practices, advanced techniques, and essential tips for safely storing magic mushrooms to maintain their potency and avoid spoilage.

Keep ReadingShow less
Weed Makes Me Introspective: When Cannabis Causes Us to Reconsider Our Life Choices

Weed Makes Me Introspective: When Cannabis Causes Us to Reconsider Our Life Choices

Pot Prompts Self-Reflection

Being stoned comes with a wealth of side effects – some of which are just part of the fun, while others have been known to get smeared all over a person’s psyche, causing them to gawk out the window every thirty seconds to see if the cops are coming up the stairs.

Perhaps the least discussed byproduct of the bud, however, is its uncanny ability to send the user into a maddening state of introspection. Cannabis can make individuals more attuned to their bodily sensations, emotions, and inner thoughts, which can contribute to this introspective state. Weed can often inspire the high-minded to start questioning their life choices, setting them on a path of self-doubt, self-loathing, and self-destruction.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cannabis and Sleep: Finding Rest with Herbal Remedies - The Bluntness

Cannabis and Sleep: Finding Rest with Herbal Remedies - The Bluntness

Photo by Shane on Unsplash

Restful Nights with Cannabis

As the quest for a good night's sleep becomes increasingly elusive for many, the turn towards cannabis as a potential remedy is gaining momentum. But how does this ancient plant interact with our modern sleep problems? With its complex blend of cannabinoids like THC and CBD, cannabis offers a unique approach to sleep enhancement, but not without its own set of questions and controversies. What are the real effects of cannabis on sleep architecture, and how do these effects vary among different users?

The conversation around cannabis and sleep is as layered as the plant itself, touching on everything from legal issues to personal health. As we explore the scientific findings and personal testimonies, we also examine how cannabis compares with traditional sleep medications. This examination not only sheds light on cannabis' effectiveness but also highlights the preferences and trends shaping its use today. Join us as we navigate through the intricate relationship between cannabis and sleep, offering insights that aim to inform and engage anyone looking to understand this natural yet complex sleep aid.

Keep ReadingShow less
REVIEW: Is The Puffco Peak Pro Worth It? - The Bluntness

REVIEW: Is The Puffco Peak Pro Worth It? - The Bluntness

Image from puffco.com

Puffco Peak Pro Review

If you’re looking to get into dabs, the good news is you no longer have to start with a little rinky dink rig from your local headshop and a torch whose flame refuses to get high enough for the ice water hash you just bought.

Instead, advancements in technology have made it where you can skip past the traditional rite of passage, and step right into the big leagues for your first taste of oil. Removing leftover concentrate is crucial to ensure optimal performance during dabbing sessions, and modern devices are designed with this in mind.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sex on shrooms is not for everyone, although certainly worth a try -- perhaps with a bit of guidance first.
Sex on shrooms is not for everyone, although certainly worth a try -- perhaps with a bit of guidance first.

Sex on Shrooms: How to Prepare Yourself

If you've tripped on psilocybin (a.k.a., magic mushrooms) before, you're already well aware what an intense experience it can be. And if shrooms can take an average activity like listening to music to an entirely different universe, you can probably imagine what sex on shrooms might feel like.

As intense and amazing as mushroom sex can be, it can also be an incredibly negative experience if you're not careful. Most psychotropic substances are best experienced when you curate the right set and setting, and sex on magic mushrooms is no different.

Keep ReadingShow less